EDUCATION

Re-demarcation of varsities’ jurisdiction delayed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 31
The re-demarcation of the jurisdiction of three universities of the region, namely Panjab University, Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University, has been delayed and it may now be done from the next academic year. The change in the jurisdiction of these universities is not possible now as the academic sessions for the year 2001-2002 have already been started by the universities. The mid-session transfer of areas is not possible according to Dr S.P. Singh, Vice- Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University.

“Moreover, the Punjab Cabinet has also not taken a final decision on the recommendations of the Council for Higher Education regarding the re-demarcation of the jurisdiction of these universities, he said.

The council has recommended that the colleges located in Ferozepore district should be transferred to Guru Nanak Dev University. These are at present affiliated with Panjab University. Similarly colleges located in Nawanshahr and Ropar districts are to be transferred to Panjab University. These are with Guru Nanak Dev University at present. The colleges of Moga and Muktsar which are affiliated with the Panjab University will be shifted to Punjabi University.

The regional centre of the Punjabi University at Mohali will go to Panjab University while the regional centre of the Panjab University at Muktsar will come under Punjabi University.

The Senators of the Panjab University belonging to the areas to be shifted to other universities had been assured that they would retain their membership, said Dr S.P. Singh. He said the teachers of the universities would also have the option to join any university

ETT teachers end fast
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 31
The Government Primary Teachers’ Association has hailed the decision of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, to accept the demands of unemployed youth having Elementary Teachers’ Training.

Stating this in a press note, Mr Piara Singh Dhillon, president of the association, said the ETT teachers had been on an indefinite fast outside the State Education Department demanding that they should be employed on priority basis. He said that when the Chief Minister and Mr R.S. Sandhu assured them that their demands would be met, the teachers ended their fast.

PCCTU to meet Women Commissioner
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 31
To discuss the case of alleged intimidation and exploitation of women lecturers by Ms Madhu Prashar, Principal, Dev Samaj College, Ferozepore, Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, will meet the Punjab State Women Commissioner at Chandigarh on August 9.

Giving this information, Prof Sodhi said he had sent the complaint to the Commissioner on June 7 and now he had been invited for hearing of the case. He said he would also present the cases of underpayment in various women colleges of the state. He said he had received complaints from 14 teachers of Guru Nanak Girls’ College, Model Town, who were being paid only Rs 5,000-6,000 instead of their due salary. Nine teachers from Mata Ganga Khalsa College for Women, Kottan, who were getting Rs 6,800 had also complained of underpayment, he said.

Similarly, four teachers of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujarkhan campus, had also complained of being underpaid. Ms Parvati Sharma, senior lecturer at Khalsa College for Women and serving since 1982, was receiving the old grade of Rs 2,200-4,000, whereas other teachers had been placed under new grades of Rs 8,000 to 10,000 since 1996, said Prof Sodhi. Besides, Ms Simaranjit Kaur and Ms Guninder Kaur, teachers at Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, have complained that they were being given old grades. Prof Sodhi said all those who wanted their cases to be presented before the Commissioner in the scheduled meeting should send their cases before August 7. 

CULTURE

Book release function at Punjabi Bhavan
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 31
Ghazal writer Darshan Singh Darshan’s new book ‘Mughdae Akhar’ has been released in Punjabi Bhavan, Ludhiana.

Famous Punjabi writers, including Parminder Singh, Karamjit Singh Aujla, Prof Mohinder Singh Cheema, Guriqbal Singh, Narinder Singh Nanda and Jaswant Singh Zaffar were present on the occasion.